U.S. Government Delivers $55 Million for Indonesia’s Childhood Immunization and Anti-Corruption Programs

November 17, 2006

bahasa Indonesia

U.S. Ambassador B. Lynn Pascoe and USAID Indonesia Mission Director William M. Frej met with BAPPENAS Minister Paskah Suzetta today to formally sign an agreement that will provide $55 million over two years to assist Indonesia with anti-corruption and child immunization programs.

“We congratulate Indonesia on achieving Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Status,” said Ambassador Pascoe. “The Threshold Program supports President Yudhoyono’s strong, on-going reform efforts to combat corruption and improve the health of all Indonesians.”

USAID Mission Director William M. Frej added, “We believe that by working closely with our Indonesian Government counterparts, civil society and private sector stakeholders, the Threshold Program will significantly improve two very different, yet equally important quality of life issues challenging Indonesia today.”

An assistance grant, provided through the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Threshold Program, was requested by President Yudhoyono to facilitate an anti-corruption program. The $35 million grant will be used to implement administrative reforms and greater judicial transparency, increase enforcement to fight money laundering, prosecute cases of public corruption and reduce opportunities for corruption through the modernization of public procurement systems.

Under the Threshold Plan, the U.S. will also spend $20 million on a program to immunize at least 80 percent of children under the age of one against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. The program also sets a 90 percent immunization target for measles.

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